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fury of a plundered peasant as 〃Bell〃 lay defenceless before him。
The farm hands came up also and joined their master in cuffing the lame
beggar。 Then when they were tired of beating him they carried him off
and shut him up in the woodshed； while they went to fetch the police。
〃Bell；〃 half dead； bleeding and perishing with hunger； lay on the floor。
Evening camethen nightthen dawn。 And still he had not eaten。
About midday the police arrived。 They opened the door of the woodshed
with the utmost precaution； fearing resistance on the beggar's part； for
Farmer Chiquet asserted that he had been attacked by him and had had
great； difficulty in defending himself。
The sergeant cried：
〃Come； get up！〃
But 〃Bell〃 could not move。 He did his best to raise himself on his
crutches； but without success。 The police； thinking his weakness
feigned； pulled him up by main force and set him between the crutches。
Fear seized himhis native fear of a uniform； the fear of the game in
presence of the sportsman； the fear of a mouse for a cat…and by the
exercise of almost superhuman effort he succeeded in remaining upright。
〃Forward！〃 said the sergeant。 He walked。 All the inmates of the farm
watched his departure。 The women shook their fists at him the men
scoffed at and insulted him。 He was taken at last！ Good riddance！
He went off between his two guards。 He mustered sufficient energythe
energy of despairto drag himself along until the evening； too dazed to
know what was happening to him； too frightened to understand。
People whom he met on the road stopped to watch him go by and peasants
muttered：
〃It's some thief or other。〃
Toward evening he reached the country town。 He had never been so far
before。 He did not realize in the least what he was there for or what
was to become of him。 All the terrible and unexpected events of the last
two days； all these unfamiliar faces and houses struck dismay into his
heart。
He said not a word； having nothing to say because he understood nothing。
Besides； he had spoken to no one for so many years past that he had
almost lost the use of his tongue； and his thoughts were too
indeterminate to be put into words。
He was shut up in the town jail。 It did not occur to the police that he
might need food； and he was left alone until the following day。
But when in the early morning they came to examine him he was found dead
on the floor。 Such an astonishing thing！
THE RABBIT
Old Lecacheur appeared at the door of his house between five and a
quarter past five in the morning； his usual hour； to watch his men going
to work。
He was only half awake； his face was red； and with his right eye open and
the left nearly closed； he was buttoning his braces over his fat stomach
with some difficulty； at the same time looking into every corner of the
farmyard with a searching glance。 The sun darted its oblique rays
through the beech trees by the side of the ditch and athwart the apple
trees outside； and was making the cocks crow on the dunghill； and the
pigeons coo on the roof。 The smell of the cow stable came through the
open door； and blended in the fresh morning air with the pungent odor of
the stable； where the horses were neighing； with their heads turned
toward the light。
As soon as his trousers were properly fastened； Lecacheur came out； and
went； first of all； toward the hen house to count the morning's eggs； for
he had been afraid of thefts for some time； but the servant girl ran up
to him with lifted arms and cried：
〃Master！ master！ they have stolen a rabbit during the night。〃
〃A rabbit？〃
〃Yes； master； the big gray rabbit； from the hutch on the left〃； whereupon
the farmer completely opened his left eye； and said； simply：
〃I must see about that。〃
And off he went to inspect it。 The hutch had been broken open and the
rabbit was gone。 Then he became thoughtful； closed his right eye again；
and scratched his nose； and after a little consideration； he said to the
frightened girl； who was standing stupidly before her master：
〃Go and fetch the gendarmes； say I expect them as soon as possible。〃
Lecacheur was mayor of the village； Pavigny…le…Gras； and ruled it like a
master； on account of his money and position； and as soon as the servant
had disappeared in the direction of the village； which was only about
five hundred yards off； he went into the house to have his morning coffee
and to discuss the matter with his wife； whom he found on her knees in
front of the fire； trying to make it burn quickly； and as soon as he got
to the door； he said：
〃Somebody has stolen the gray rabbit。〃
She turned round so suddenly that she found herself sitting on the floor；
and looking at her husband with distressed eyes； she said：
〃What is it； Cacheux？ Somebody has stolen a rabbit？〃
〃The big gray one。〃
She sighed。
〃What a shame！ Who can have done it？〃
She was a little； thin； active； neat woman； who knew all about farming。
Lecacheur had his own ideas about the matter。
〃It must be that fellow； Polyte。〃
His wife got up suddenly and said in a furious voice：
〃He did it！ he did it！ You need not look for any one else。 He did it！
You have said it； Cacheux！〃
All her peasant's fury； all her avarice； all her rage of a saving woman
against the man of whom she had always been suspicious； and against the
girl whom she had always suspected； showed themselves in the contraction
of her mouth； and the wrinkles in the cheeks and forehead of her thin；
exasperated face。
〃And what have you done？〃 she asked。
〃I have sent for the gendarmes。〃
This Polyte was a laborer； who had been employed on the farm for a few
days； and who had been dismissed by Lecacheur for an insolent answer。 He
was an old soldier； and was supposed to have retained his habits of
marauding and debauchery front his campaigns in Africa。 He did anything
for a livelihood； but whether he were a mason； a navvy； a reaper； whether
he broke stones or lopped trees； he was always lazy； and so he remained
nowhere for long； and had； at times； to change his neighborhood to obtain
work。
From the first day that he came to the farm； Lecacheur's wife had
detested him； and now she was sure that he had committed the theft。
In about half an hour the two gendarmes arrived。 Brigadier Senateur was
very tall and thin； and Gendarme Lenient short and fat。 Lecacheur made
them sit down； and told them the affair； and then they went and saw the
scene of the theft； in order to verify the fact that the hutch had been
broken open； and to collect all the proofs they could。 When they got
back to the kitchen； the mistress brought in some wine； filled their
glasses； and asked with a distrustful look：
〃Shall you catch him？〃
The brigadier； who had his sword between his legs； appeared thoughtful。
Certainly； he was sure of taking him； if he was pointed out to him； but
if not； he could not answer for being able to discover him； himself； and
after reflecting for a long time； he put this simple question：
〃Do you know the thief？〃
And Lecacheur replied； with a look of Normandy slyness in his eyes：
〃As for knowing him； I do not；